Leadership
We believe kindness drives growth and innovation. Watch it work.
Aspiritech’s leadership team is committed to being a business with a mission. We strive to create a kind and progressive work environment where our team members can reach their full potential. We believe that by creating a space where innovation and people thrive, our clients and organization will thrive right along with them.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Tara started as CEO of Aspiritech in April 2022. Prior to joining Aspiritech, Tara was EVP of Media & Chief Digital Officer at Winsight as well as VP of Content and Product Strategy for Patch Media. She helped launch 900 hyperlocal sites for the AOL network as well as a digital reverse-published local news product for the Chicago Tribune.
Tara’s career is focused on using technology and product innovation to drive growth. She is a sought-after speaker on user experience and digital transformation. She’s overseen large and small teams with a focus on career development and leading with kindness. She resides in Lake County with her husband and teen and tween children. She is personally committed to embracing neurodiversity in all aspects of work and life.
Nick is joining Aspiritech with 10 years of Human Resources experience at hospitality and healthcare organizations, most recently as the Director of Human Resources for Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He holds a Senior Certified Professional certification from the Society for Human Resources Management and has a BA in English from Illinois Wesleyan University. Nick has a passionate employee-centric approach to HR leadership and hopes to make Aspiritech a trendsetting example of what it means to be a people-first organization. He believes that an organization’s greatest asset is its team members and when those people are also the mission, there is no better place to work.
Julie joined the Aspiritech team in January 2019. She has a breadth of experience in corporate finance and not-for-profit management and leadership. She is committed to sustaining the organization’s mission through its financial health. She oversees the overall accounting functions at Aspiritech in addition to collaborating with the management team on yearly forecasting and budgeting. She is also responsible for coordinating the financial audit and providing reporting to the Aspiritech Board of Directors.
Julie has long been passionate about being an advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace and celebrating the strengths and contributions of neurodivergent individuals to all of society.
Maxwell oversees operations across all of Aspiritech’s program lines, including software quality assurance, accessibility, and data services. Previously a program manager for Aspiritech’s multi-million dollar Audio Program with a focus on new development, he has excelled at expanding product lines and coaching team members. Maxwell is a people-first leader who believes in putting his team in a position to succeed is what’s best for them, the client, and the organization. Maxwell has a history in sales and marketing. He is passionate about movies and music, making him the perfect person to have an attention to detail in the sound space. He is a sought-after speaker and advocate for people with disabilities. He has several family members with disabilities, including schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis. He is also a recent graduate of Johnson & Johnson’s Leadership Development Program.
Kayley joins Aspiritech with over 15 years of experience leading teams in marketing strategy, digital marketing, client services, and business development. She is a self-professed analytics nerd who relentlessly uncovers innovative ways to reach and engage audiences to build a movement of passionate brand advocates and drive revenue growth.
Prior to joining Aspiritech, Kayley was Senior Vice President at Do Big Things, where she led campaign strategy and worked with nonprofits and advocacy organizations to broaden reach, engage communities, and drive change. Kayley has also worked in B2B media with brands, companies and nonprofits, leading client management, marketing, and digital transformation. She resides in the Chicago suburbs with her family and can often be found baking bread, reading, and bird watching in her spare time.
Program Directors
Board of Directors
Officers
Michael P. Duff, Jr.
Technology Executive and CIO
Chairperson
Janice Block Chaddock
Retired Global Education Executive
Vice Chair
Sharon Bielski
Secretary
Alan Berkowitz
Retired
Treasurer
Board Members
Vivek Chopra
Executive Chairman; Strategic Advisor; Mentor
Kyle Cramer
Diverse Partner Development at Microsoft
Maureen Dunne, Ph.D.,
Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Autism Angels Group
Roman Eisenberg
Head of Digital Banking Technology, JP Morgan Chase Consumer and Community Banking
Matt Epstein
Staff Accountant, Misericordia Home
Mitch Greenwald
Business Technology Executive; Board Member; Actively Retired
Steve Henkels
Retired Senior Technology Executive
Kelly Killian
Brand journalist and content marketer
Rachel Loftin, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Emily Raclaw
MS, LPC, CRC Director, On Your Marq, Marquette University
David Rappaport
Rappaport Reiches Capital Management
Nikhil Sonpal
CEO, Mobility Quotient
Marcus Williams
Accounting Financial Systems Manager
Brad Zelinger
Founder and CEO, Stride Autism Centers